Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-08-04
DAILY HERALD.
THE BARONESS.
She Tells the Story of Her
Life
TO A HERALD REPORTER.
A Romantic HistOry-She De-
M ( scended from the NOblest
Castilians.

The interest in the Peralta land case
has apparently not abated, and as the
Examiner is printing number of in
terviews indirectly bearing on the
subject, the HERALD decided to sift
the matter to the bottom and dispose
OF it for once and all. Learning that
the Baroness was stopping at the Glen
wood Hotel, at Riverside, a reporter
was dispatched thither yesterday, with
instructions to ferret out the whole
story if possible and below is given the
result Of his inquiries. He was granted
most cordial reception by the Baron
ess, who readily answered his many
questions, and taking the matter she
told him and adding to it some of the
facts already in his possession, the
following hitherto unpublished story
was woven together and may be ac-
cepted as as a trrls and reliable his
tory of the early life and "reminiscences
of the Baroness OF the Colorados.
THE STORY.
AS far as is cared to be made public
at present, the story opens in cloud
of mystery. From the earliest period
OF her recollection, when the impress
sions of the world first implanted
themselves on her memory, she was
aware that she was the center-piece of
a mystery as regards her antecedents,
which it was the interest of certain
parties to weave into an impenetrable
web. She can recall an aged grand
mother, who bestowed ON her that af-
fection which should have come from
the mother-source, but which fate had
destined she should never enjoy, as
her mother was called away from the
earth a few hours after she gave birth
to her first and only child. The scene
OF the opening of the narrative was
laid evidently somewhere in the north
ern part of California, and probably
not more than 200 or 300 miles from
Sacramento. The child grew from
a prattling babe to be merry, laugh
ing girl, and it was at this period, in
the year 1868 or 1869, that Captain
SNOWFALL visited the beautiful valley
OF her childhood's memory, and, hav-
ing no children OF his own, he made
overtures which finally resulted in the
little waif going with him to his home
in Knights Landing. Up to this time
she had gone simply by the name of
Sophie, although her grandmother
was constantly impressing on her the
fact that she must always remem-
ber her right name. When
she was adopted by SNOWFALL she
decided to take the cognomen OF
Treadwell, for she refused to take the
name of her new guardians, as she
had developed a strong dislike to Mrs.
Snowfall. In the meantime, in the
early history of the events already
narrated, her father, Don Jose Ramon
Carmen Maso, crossed the blue
waters of the Atlantic on vessel
to the home of his ancestors, and
while at Cadiz he died, leaving his
daughter an orphan in the hands of
strangers. Summers came and went,
and the oval-faccd girl of eight deyel-
oped into the comeliness and grace
which attend that age when girlhood
bursts from the bud and blossoms into
the attractiveness OF womanhood and
becoming somewhat tired of the life
she was leading at Captain Snowball's $
in the year 1876, she decided to ac-
cept an offer made by dressmaker
within a few blocks of where she
lived, and amid the busy toll of her
new life she passed the next few
months of her existence. 1t was in
the year 1877 when she decided to
make visit at Sacramento to some
friends who had extended her an in
vitatior and boarding the Central
Pacific train she was soon whirled on
her destination at Davisville, where
a junction is made with the San Fran
cisco train. The car in which she
was seated was boarded by pre-
possessing young man, who on seeing
her was struck with her resemblance
to family whose history was being
interviewer with his own. These
striking features nerved him to the
undertaking., ), and he approached her
and inquired if she knew anyone of
the name of Massol in Sacramento.
That is my name said the astonished
girl, and her questiOner was evidently
as much surprised, for he Immediately
seated himself beside her and began
to PROFOUND many more questions re-
garding herself, he being in search of
a man named Florin A. Massol of Sac
ramento, who had figured in the early
history of the case with DIR. Willing
This was her first meeting with James
Addison Reavis the man who after
wards stood with her before the altar
and was united to her in the
bonds of matrimony. Reavis had
been for several years engaged
in research connected with the case.
He had interested himself in it
through friend before coming to this
coast and was following up the trail
with the dogged determination which
has marked all his after movements.
The story she told him on the train
was of a necessity limited as to de-
tail, but enough was said to convince
him that he had at last struck the
fountain head of his requirements
and he obtained from her promise
tn answer any written communication
that he might forward. They parted
in Sacramento and she proceeded to
her friends reside ce. A brief visit
was all that she paid and she then re-
turned to Knights Landing, where
she remained until 1880, when
she received an offer to enter the
service of Mrs. Laughnour OF Wood
land. Sophie Treadwell as she was
then called, was comparatively alone
in the world, no one to turn to for ad-
vice save the few friends and acquain-
tances she had formed, and she decid-
ed to accept the offer that had been
made her-it being coupled with the
privilege OF attending school so pack
parted for Mrs. Laughnour's, and en-
tered into her service forthwith. She
: had been there about year when, an
offer being made to her by Mrs
Craig which she thought would re,
do,nd to her advantage, she accepted